Mixed views on impact of Royal Wedding

04 February, 2011

Page 4

The Royal Wedding is expected to hit retail bakers in the pocket with some set to close their shops for the day, and those that do open predicting a drop in takings.

Taking place on Friday, 29 April, at 11am, the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton is expected to result in lower footfall on the high streets as people stay at home to watch the event on TV, leaving bakers with a tough decision over whether to open at all.

Neville Morse, MD of Gloucestershire craft chain Jane's Pantry, said he was still undecided. "We expect takings would be well down on the day, but it's hard to know by how much and whether it's worth opening at all. If we do open, we could lose money on staff wages and stock. If we don't open, then we definitely lose a day's takings."

Mike Holling, retail sales manager at Birds of Derby, said. "The wedding will put pressure on us operationally and there will be extra cost involved, but it's going to happen so it's important to join in and develop new products. Think of it as another Valentine's or Mother's Day."

Bakers looking to cash in on the event include Andrew Jones Pies, which is creating a Royal Wedding Pie, while Michelle Hollinshead, owner of Cameo Cupcakes in Derby, is planning a cupcake tower in red, white and blue. Cameo's sister company Cake Decor, which supplies decorations to the trade, has launched Union Jack-branded cupcake cases in time for the wedding. "We expect there will be a lot of street parties and bakers will be looking for ways to theme their products," she said.